Dubai Municipality will construct a $5.9m (AED22m) crocodile park in the Emirate, with the project’s construction contract already handed out to a firm, it has been revealed. The 2ha (20,000sqm) park is due for completion in 14 months, and will be situated 10km away from Dubai International Airport. Preparation works to begin construction will commence on-site in September 2015. The name of the contracted firm has not been revealed. The crocodile park will resemble those found in France with a habitat that is as natural as possible, local daily Gulf News reported. Obaid Ebrahim Al Marzouqi, head of administrative services…

Construction consultancy Parsons is to carry out the design and supervise construction of all of the infrastructure works for Dubai’s Expo 2020 site. The US-based firm said that work will involve designing, monitoring and delivering all infrastructure works for a 438-hectare site, which will include several pavilions, souks and entertainment venues. “We are excited that Parsons was selected by Expo 2020 Dubai to help deliver this first ever global showcase staged in the region. Our collective efforts will embody Dubai’s overall mission to spur innovation, opportunity, and connectivity,” said Gary Adams, Parsons Middle East Africa president. The company’s group president, Todd…

Dubai-based Simon Nummy has won top prize in an international architectural design contest for his vision of a floating city. The organisation behind the prize, the Seasteading Institute, is a non-profit think-tank which is working to provide an opportunity for experimenting with new societies, with a focus on floating cities which “will allow the next generation of pioneers to peacefully test new ideas for how to live together”. Nummy, who is employed by Atkins, worked on the project in his own time. He said his design aims to create a fully sustainable and self-sufficient community which is resilient against all…

Four companies have emerged as front runners to get construction contract for the Oman Cultural Complex project, which the Ministry of Heritage and Culture is planning as part of its strategy to promote cultural and artistic innovations in the country. Out of the 25 companies that had collected tender documents, only Carillion Alawi, Sinohydro Corporation, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Dawood Contracting Company, Itinera SpA, and Oman Shapoorji Construction Co submitted technical bids. Of the six firms, four are in the fray now after submitting financial bids, with Dawood Contracting Company emerging as the lowest bidder with RO82.67mn, while Carillion Alawi…

The parks section at the Services Affairs Department of Umm Slal Municipality planted 3,000 seedlings of the Portulaca seasonal flower as well as 200 Dodonaea landscaping plants along Zekreet Road last month. A total of 80,003sqm of grass was trimmed at Nasser Al-Attiyah Park and Al Kharaitiyat Park, Kentucky roundabout, Ahmed Bin Ali Street, Civil Defence and Arwa Mart, according to a statement. Other services included 17 tree trimming operations for the benefit of citizens, conducted through the ministry’s website, besides four applications through the parks section. The section also conducted preventive spraying for 2,500 Sidr trees and hauled 4,900,000…

The once-green landscape of a residential area in the city is now barren as plants, grass and trees have died after an irrigation system stopped working nearly a year ago. Residents of the Zen Cluster at Discovery Gardens said that despite repeated calls to the developer, Nakheel, the automatic system was not fixed and the situation had deteriorated in recent weeks. Resident Midhun Chayanani, 31, said like himself many of the tenants were fed up with the problem. “I’ve lived in Discovery Gardens since 2013 and the difference in the landscape from then to now is striking,” said the Indian….

Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has sought experienced contractors to pre-qualify to carry out main contract works for a residential villas development on Saadiyat Island. The project includes the construction of a gated villa community with facilities and gatehouses/boundary walls. The chosen contractor will be required to undertake structural, architectural works, MEP, finishes, testing/commissioning, external works, hard/soft landscaping and integration/completion of pre-existing utility connections and infrastructure. All necessary authority permits and approvals will be the responsibility of the contractor. Located just 500 metres off the coast of Abu Dhabi,Saadiyat Island is a 27km2 island planned and created…

Three new parks will open in Ras Al Khaimah this year. The parks are in Al Burairat, Al Jazira Al Hamrah and Shawkah, said an official at the Public Works and Services Department (PWSD). They will be opened as soon possible, the official added, noting that creating parks in residential areas is part of a master plan to increase green spaces in the emirate. The official also told Al Ittihad, the Arabic sister paper of The National, that the PWSD is also carrying out comprehensive maintenance work at Al Saqr Park to expand the car park, increase green areas and…

Saudi Arabia has approved contracts worth $266 million to implement 168 municipal projects across 14 governorates, the state news agency reported. Projects include storm-water drainage systems, environmental health projects, walkways, construction of municipality buildings and public facilities, seafront developments as well as several consultancy contracts, the Saudi Press Agency said. Riyadh province will see projects worth $41.8 million for public parks, walkways, cultural centers and water networks, while Jeddah will have contracts worth $46.3 million awarded. Projects in the Eastern Province – costing a total of $30.1 million – will include studies on disabled-friendly cities, the completion of northern Al-Khobar…

The scheduled reopening of the renovated Al Khor Park, which features world-class tourism amenities, has a “strong potential” to draw many visitors to the northern part of Qatar, it is learnt. The park, spread over 240,000sqm, is due to reopen in August, pending safety measures being reviewed by the Public Gardens Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP). One section of the park features a spacious restaurant, mosque, museum, mini golf area, wall mural, skating area, children’s play area, basketball court, food kiosks, drinking fountain, and an amphitheatre. A mini train, complete with a railway station, will…